When is a gun useless?
If someone were to ask you that question, what would your first thought be? Unless your attacker is riding in a tank, guns can and will stop the perpetrator in their tracks. Or maybe a gun would be useless if you didn’t know how to use it? If you can’t hit what you’re aiming at, what help would it be? However, there is one thing that trumps even that. It travels down to the basics for every gun owner. And that is – a gun is the most useless when you don’t have it with you.
Count the Seconds
The saddest thing I’ve ever seen is when gun owners lock up all their firearms. That, in my opinion, is the next thing to not having a gun at all. I can never stress enough that when something bad happens, it happens FAST.
While I was overseas as a recon soldier, some of our missions were to conduct snatch and grab operations. We went right into the towns during the night. Kicking the door off the hinges we would clear a two-story structure in mear seconds. It never ceased to amaze me how quickly we could rush in and take things over before anyone even had a chance. They never saw us coming and very few were able to react fast enough. Those that did were ones that had a weapon right next to them and were using some kind of delay device that slowed our breach.
Although under different circumstances, I saw the same thing here in America. In my time as a deputy, and working on counterdrug, I often would be observing illegal activity for days. Once there was enough evidence and a search warrant was obtained, SRT/SWAT would go into their houses and arrest them. All it took was one well-aimed kick at their door. Day or night, it didn’t matter. The result was always the same. No one expected us to be there and no one was able to react fast enough to stop us.
Reverse the Roles
Granted in every scenario I was working with the law, not against. However, for every good guy enforcing the laws, there is at least one bad guy breaking the laws. There are those out there who make it their life’s work to do exactly what I did but in the reverse. Instead of preserving peace and enforcing justice, they wreak havoc and cause pain wherever they go.
Keep Your Gun On You
Even in your own home (especially within your own home) keep your gun on your side. It should never be out of your immediate reach. Yes, it is inconvenient. I’m not going to lie about that one. Having a gun with you carries an immense responsibility. However, like I’ve said a thousand times before, “It is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” Eventually, your weapon will become second nature to you. It will be your constant comfort that should something bad happen, you would at least have a chance of stopping it.
Once someone decides to break into your home, they are not going to wait while you go to your safe and unlock your firearm. They aren’t even going to wait while you dig through your bag or reach for the shelf.
No Excuse
If you are responsible enough to own and use a gun, then you must take upon yourself the responsibility to keep it and use it correctly. There is no excuse for not having your weapon with you at all times (especially in your home). If you are worried about children or someone else getting a hold of the weapon, then you are not keeping it close enough. If you have children, then never ever set the gun down where they can reach it. However, if it is always on you, then you have no fear of them touching it because you can stop them before they do. When I was a kid, my Dad always kept his 45ACP on his hip. When I finally asked him why, he told me,”It ain’t doing no good in the safe, and you kids can’t touch it without me knowing about it.” A lesson taught by an old Marine, husband, and father of 5 kids.
I would love to hear your opinion on the matter. Share your thoughts in a comment below.
